Separator loading machine



Oct. v7, 1941. R, Hi cRAMER sEPARAToR LOADING MACHINE A Filed. oct. 1'5, .195e s sheets-sheet 1 m m f am WN MAME Nwfl MUM? N A wi ,m5 H,

Oct. 7, 1941. RVH. CRAMER I 2,258,043

sEPARAToR LOADING MACHINE Filed oct. 15, 193e sheds-sheet 2 VEN TUE'. En W10/v0 hi ERA/1ER OCL 7, 1941 R. H. CRAMER- 2,258,048 SEPARATOR LOADING MACHINE I Filed oct. 15, 195e. s sheets-sheet z @Y f 7e 270 282 5a@ l? @www /yf/SA WUR/vir Patented Oct. 7, 1941 SEPARATOR LOADING MACHINE Raymond H. Cramer, Newark, N. J., assigner .to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a 'corporation of Delaware APDlicationOctobcr 15, 1936, Serial No. 105,751

Claims.

This invention relates to separator loading machines and comprises all of the features of novelty herein disclosed.V An object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for filling a bearing separator or the like with rolling elements. Another `object is to provide improved means for supporting, locating and actuating a cage or separator with respect to roller supply mechanism. Another object is to provide a simple and reliable mechanism for rapidly assembling a series of rollers in openings of a separator.

To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of this charactenthe invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed. In its broader aspects, the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific construction selected for illustrative purpose in the accompanying drawings lin which Fig. 1 is chiefiy avertical sectional view of the machine with some' partsinV side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the separator driving-means.

Fig. 3 is aV vertical sectional view of one element of a rotatable' work support.

Fig. 3A is a side view Vof a portion of Fig.' 3.

Fig. 4 isa plan view of the device of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4A is a'plan view of a portion of Fig.. 4 enlarged. f Fig. V5 isa vertical sectional view of a ring constituting another Velement of the Work support. i

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the vring of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View showing the elements of Figs. 3 and 5 assembled. Fig. A8 is a vertical sectional View of a modification.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end view of a portion of a bearing cage. f

Fig'. 11 is a sectional view of a portion of the cage.

Fig. 12 is a Vertical sectional View of a modi-` cation.r v .Y

Fig. 13 is a plan view of parts of Fig.`12. v

Roller R, such as barrel shaped rollers for roller bearings, slide endwise down a feed tube Eiithe lower endn of 'which enters an adapter sleeve `I2 which is secured by a set screw I4 to the shouldered end of a hollow stud I6 formed on the upper end of a lowerl feed tube I8. The tube I8 is adjustably secured by a clamping screw v2() in the split end of a bracket 22, the tube having -a suitable external slot .engaged by a lpin 24 to preventrotation.

The rollers .are retained in the feed tube by a detent 26, the roller engaging end 28 of which is notched to engage the lowermost roller above and below the maximum diameter thereof, this Vend entering a suitable cut-away portion at the lower end of the tube I8. The detent is urged towards the rollers by .a coil spring 30 surrounding the shank 32 of the detent, the detent and its shank being slidablymounted in a sleeve 34 which is also slidablein an opening of the bracket 22.. YThe .forward endof the sleeve is slotted at the top-andbottom asindicated at 36-to receive the enlargedeflont' end of the detent to prevent rotation thereof. The Vrear end of the sleeve has an enlargement 38 which is flattened at the sides to t between the .arms 40 of a yoke, the yoke being secured by pivot pins 42 to the enlargement 38. Adjusting stop nuts 44 are threaded on the end of the shank 32 .to limit forward motion of the plunger and to ef.- fect rearward movement thereof When the yoke 46 is actuated, this yoke being carried by a lever 46 pivoted at 48 to a lug 50 `on the bracket 22. The leverisurged to `swing rearwardly by a spring pressed plunger-52 whichY is forked at its -end and pivoted to the lever. A coil spring housed in the bracket 22-engagesy the end of the plunger. 'I'he plunger is normally freely slidable in its recess but,l when setting up the machine., it -can be temporarily locked in positionby a cone-pointed screw 55 threaded in the bracket 22 and adapted to engage a V-shaped notch in the plunger. f

Thelower end of the lever 46 is forked and .carries a cam roller 62 adapted toengage a cam 64 near the upper end of a vertically shiftable rod 66 which is guided Ain anfopening of a bracket 68. The .bracket has a recess 18 for the enlarged upper end of the rod which carries a cross pin 12 riding in a slot 14 of the bracket to prevent the rod from turning. The bracket 68 is. slotted lengthwise as at 15 and adjustably fastened by screws 16 toY a'base plate 18 which sis adapted to be fastened to the top of asuitable table or bench (not shown). The .base plate I8 has a long keyway 80 engaged by keys 82 fastened by screws 84 in slots of the bracket 168 to locate the latter laterally when adjusted longitudinally, a depending rod-guiding extension 83 of the bracket shifting along a slot 85 of the base plate.

The reduced lower end of the rod 66 is secured by a cross pin .86 to a yoke or clevis 88 which is -pivotally connected to a turn'buckle 8D connected to an actuating lever 92, the latter having pivoted to it a yoke or clevice 94 which is actuated vertically in any suitable manner, as by means of a foot treadle. The actuating lever is normally urged upwardly by a coil spring 96 anchored to a stud 98 on the base plate and to an adjusting screw |99 threaded in the actuating lever and secured thereto by locking nuts |92. The rear end of the actuating lever is pivotally connected at |94 to the lower end of an arm |96 whose upper end is forked and pivoted to lugs on a bracket |98 fastened to the base plate.

The front end of the actuating lever is provided with a fork |29 secured by pivot pins |22 to a bearing sleeve |24 which is slidable vertically on a stud |26 provided at the lower end with a stop collar |28. The upper end of the stud has a reduced threaded extension |39 secured in a tapped Opening at the lower end of a shaft |32 which is adapted to slide vertically and to oscillate around its axis. A friction washer |34 is interposed between the lower end of the shaft |32 and a shoulder on the stud |26 and is adapted to engage the lower end of an oscillating sleeve |36 to limit upward movement of the shaft. 'Ihe shaft has a long keyway |31 receiving a key pin |38 having a part threaded in the Sleeve |36. The sleeve |36 is journalled in roller bearings |42 carried by a hollow bracket |44 which is secured by screws |46 to the base plate. A friction washer |48 is clamped against a shoulder of the sleeve |36 by a nut |59 which is secured to the sleeve by a set screw |52, the friction washer engaging the lower end of the hollow bracket |44 and preventing upward move.

ment of the sleeve due to the pull of the coil spring 96 which tends to lift the bearing sleeve |24 against the lower friction washer |34. The washer |34 then engages the lower end of the sleeve but is lowered away from .it when the treadle is actuated to cause the bearing sleeve |24 to .engage the collar |28 to depress the stud |26 and the connected shaft |32. A coil spring |56 surrounds the shaft |32 and is interposed between an internal shoulder |51 of the sleeve |36 and a shoulder |58 near the upper end of the shaft, thereby tending to lift the shaft in the sleeve as far as is permitted by the friction washer |34. A friction washer is interposed between the upper end of the bracket |44 and a flange |59 on the sleeve |36 to rotatably support the sleeve. y

A key |69 in a slot at the upper end of the sleeve |36 secures a pulley |62 thereto, the pulley being oscillated by a belt |64 actuated manually byl a second pulley as will appear. A brake shoe |66 is urged by a coil spring |68 against the pulley |62 to steady the rotation thereof, the coil spring being backed up by a screw |19 which vis threaded into the lower end of a flanged bushing- |12 set in a hole of the base plate. `A stop pin |14 carried by the lower face of the pulley is adaptedto alternately engage the opposite sides of a stop plate |16 fastened by screws |18 to the top of the base plate. The pulley and the parts oscillated thereby have an annular oscillation somewhat less than 360 as will appear.

A key |80 at the upper end of the shaft 32 secures a turntable |872 having an annular flange Y The turn table has a key |85 to prevent 'c tending lugs |99, these latter lugs, as will appear, acting to tilt the rollers into the pockets of a cage during assembly and tting between fingers on the cage to key the latter to the turntable. The ring |86 has an annular series of lugs |94 which slant outwardly and upwardly to engage and center the cage or separator and they provide an annular series of slots |96 the bottom surfaces of which slant outwardly and downwardly, such slots providing spaces to receive the rollers when they become tilted outwardly into the openings of the cage.

The cage (see Figs. 1, l0 and 11) comprises a body portion 299 of substantially conical form and provided with a series of openings 292 to receive the rollers R. The cage body is connected to an inwardly extending flange 294 having a series of fingers 296 which initially flare inwardly somewhat as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1 and are in radial alignment with those parts of the cage body between the openings. After the rollers become tilted outwardly in the roller openings, the loaded cage is removed and the fingers 296 are then bent outwardly substantially parallel to the conical body portion of the cage as indicated in Figs.V l0 and 11 to thereafter hold the rollers in the openings. The ring |86 is provided withk two vertical slots 2|9 adapted to engage the bevelled upper ends 2|2 of a centering plate 2|4 which is fastened by screws 2|6 in a vertical groove of a lug 2 I8 carried by a pad 229 on which the ,bracket 22 rests and is secured by screws 222. When the turntable and ring |86 are lowered, the bevelled ends 2|2 of the centering plate will enter one of the slots 2I9 and cause the turntable to take the proper angular or circumferential position so that the separator which is in turn circumferentially located on the turntable by the lugs |99 will have an opening in proper position to receive the rst roller.

The turntable is lowered by means of the treadle which is connected to the operating lever 92 and the empty cage isv placed on the turntable in this lowered position. The flange 294 of the cage rests on the shallow supporting faces |88, the fingers 296 of the cage entering the slots between thelugs |99. During this lowering of the turntable, the cam 64 is Vlikewise lowered thereby urging the detent 26 against the lowermost rollerin the feed tube and holding all of the rollers therein. When the treadle is released, the coil spring |56 raises the turntable to loading position; the spring 96 lifts the cam to the indicated position, 'and the detent is moved rearwardly to release the lowermost roller which drops int'o the first cage opening, the remaining rollers being supported by the lowermost roller until the cage is turned to bring another opening under the chute. The lower end or outlet of the feed tube I8 projects partially Within the separator and lies at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of the separator and its support to direct rolling elements into the separator opening with a component of movement radially of the separator. The rollingv elements are thus guided clear of the ends of the separator fingers 296. The pulley |62 is turned to carry the stop -pin |14 from one side of the stop plate |16 to the oppositerside of the stop plate, this resulting Vin a rotation of the turntable for something less than 360 but sufficient to ll all the openings in lthe cage. As the turntable rotates, the cage is compelled to turn also because the lugs |99 interlock with the cage fingers 296 and act as keys. As the cage turns, the rollers successively drop then lowered and the loaded cage removed andY replaced. by an empty one As the turntable is lowered', the remaining slot'2|8 co-operates with the centering plate 2|4 to locate the turntable angularly for they next operation in which the turntable is turned inthe opposite direction for an angular distance lessv than 360. The turntable has any convenient means to oscillate it, preferably by the device of Fig. 2.

The belt |64 passes around a pulley 224 having a handlev 226, the pulley having a flanged bushing 228 containing a roller bearing 230 which engages the periphery of a hollow stud 232 having a flange or collar 234 supported on the base plate. The stud also has a little collar 236 which is flattened at the front and rear tov prevent rotation of the stud by engaging the sides of a slot 238 at the top of the base, this slot extending radially with respect to the other pulley |62. A clamping stud 240 passes through a slot 242 which is also radially arranged with respect to the pulley 62, the stud being headed at the upper end and being clamped in adjusted position by a nut 244 threaded on the lower end thereof. A friction washer 246 engages a shoulder on the studV 232 and the bushing 228 where it is secured by a rnut 248 threaded on the upper end of the stud 232. y

In Figures 8 and 9 there is shown a'taller turntable 250 which is adapted to support smaller cages or separators which do not have the fingers 206. This turntable has an elevated annular ledge 252 to support the end of the cage or separator and has an annular extension 254 provided with curved pockets or recesses 256 which conform to a portion of the rollers. The bottoms 258 of these pockets are adapted to engage the ends of the rollers as they feed into the cage or separator and to tilt the rollers outwardly into the separator openings. The first -roller assembled interlocks with the pocket and the separator opening, thereby keying the separator to the turntable for turning movement therewith. For cages of small diameter, the

chute assembly is shiftable towards the turntable by means of the adjustable bracket 68.

Figures l2 and 13 indicate the modification of the machine for feeding cylindrical rollers C into a cylindrical cage or separator 218. This separator has openings 212 which are slightly smaller than the rollers so that when the rollers enter the openings from the outside'they cannot pass through. The separator 21|] is supported at one end in an annular channel 214 in .pockets or recesses 284. The turntable is adapted tov move vertically in an opening 286 of a ring 288 having an annular ledge 290 from which extends downwardly an inclined slot 292 open endwise in a direction away from the turntable and leading to the top of the turntable. The slot acts" as a barrier in av direction radially away from the separator and is inclined at an acute angle to the axis of the separator to cause the rollers to move towards the separator axis with one end of.l each vroller entering a separator opening. A feed chuteV 294- is in alignment with this slot and feeds the rollers one by' one into the slot as the turntable is rotated. The lower end of each roller enters one of theseparator openings and a corresponding recess 284 and is thus keyed to the plate 282 and to the separator which thereby carries the roller around with it and out of the slotr292. The side wall of the slot cams the roller outv of the slot and tilts it into a vertical position to complete its entry into a separator opening where it becomes confined by the circular Wall 286. When all of the openings have been lled, the turntable 216 and the ring 288 may be lowered, the ring 288 being lowered to a greater degree which will permit an outer race ring to be placed on the ledge` 290 and lowered to a position surrounding the rollers and holding them in the separator openings. Then the outer race ring, rollers and separator are removed as a unit and a new separator is inserted on the turntable. The turntable and ring are then raised and the new separator is filled with rollers. As an alternative, the chute 294 may be swung out of the way and the turntable with the filled separator lifted with respect to the ring 288 to push the filled separator up intok an outer race ring supported on the ledge 299.

I claim: Y

l. In a machine for loading rolling elements into separator openings, a turning and axially shiftable support for the separator, supply mechanism having an outlet, the axis of turning of the separator support being iixed at a predetermined distance from the outlet and the outlet lying at an acute angle to said axis to deliver rolling elements to the separator openings with a component of movement radially of the separator, means for turning the support around an axis to bringl the separator openings successively to the outlet, and means for axially shifting the support to provide for insertion or removalof the separator; substantially as described.

2. In a machine for loading rolling elements into separator openings, a support for the separator, supply mechanism having an outlet to deliver rolling elements to the separator openings, the outlet projecting partially into the separator at an acute angle to the separator axis, means for causing relative movement of separation in an axial direction between the Support and the projecting outlet of the supply mechanisrn to provide an increased space therebetween for inserting the separator on the support with `an opening in alignment with the outlet, and

kturning the'support around an axis, means for shifting the support axially towards or from the outlet, and means on the machine and the. support cooperating during said shifting movement for locating said support angularly; substantially as described.

4. In a machine for loading rolling elements into separator openings, a turning and axially shiftable support for the separator, supply mechanism having an outlet to deliver rolling elements into the separator openings, means for locating the separator circumferentially on the support, means for turning the Vsupport around an axis, means for shifting the support axially towards or from the outlet, and means for circumferentiaily locating said support to position a separator opening in alignment with said outlet; substantially as described.

5. In a machine for loading rolling elements into separator openings, an oscillating separator support, supply mechanism having an outlet to deliver rolling elements to separator openings, means for turning the support in opposite directions successively about an axis, means for shifting the support bodily towards or from the outlet, the support having a pair of slots, and a locating plate adapted to successively engage the slots to position the support angularly before it begins the turning movement; substantially as described.

6. In a machine for loading rolling elements into 'separator openings, a turning and shiftable support for the separator, supply mechanism having an outlet to deliver rolling elements to the separator openings, means for turning the support angularly about an axis, means for shifting the support towards and from the outlet, a centering plate and a slot therefor, one of said members being carried by the support and the two being adapted to register when the support is shifted'aWay from the outlet; substantially as described.

7. In a machine for loading rolling elements into separator openings, a turning support for the separator, supply mechanism having an outlet to deliver rolling elements to the separator openings, means for locating a separator angularly on the support with a separator opening in alignment with the outlet, means for turning the support angularly about an axis, and means `for limiting said angular turning to the angular distance from one separator opening around to the last one; substantially as described.

8. In a machine for loading rolling elements into separator openings, an oscillating separator support, supply mechanism having an outlet to deliver rolling elements to separator openings, means for turning the support in opposite directions successively about an axis, and means for insuring an angular turning of less than a full turn in each direction; substantially as described.

9. In a machine for loading rolling elements into separator openings, a support for the separator, supply mechanism having an outlet to deliver rolling elements to the separator openings,

-a shaft connected to the support, a sleeve keyed to the shaft, means for turning the sleeve, and means for shifting the shaft axially of the sleeve; substantially as described.

1 0. In a machine for loading rolling elements -into separator openings, a support for the separator, supply mechanism having an outlet to deliver rolling elements to the separator openings, a shaft connected to the support, a sleeve keyed to the shaft, means for turning the sleeve, a spring interposed between a shoulder on the shaft and a shoulder in the sleeve, and means for shifting said shaft axially against the spring; substantially as described.

l1. VIn a machine for loading rolling elements into separator openings, a support engaging and supporting one end of the separator, interiitting means upon the support and the separator and independent of the rolling elements for keying the separator to the supporty for turning therewith, means for centering the separator on the support, and means for turning the support around an axis; substantially as described.

12. In a machine for loading rolling elements into openings in a separator having fingers between the openings, a support engaging and supporting the separator and having roller receiving slots, means for turning the support around an axis, the support having means fitting between adjacent ngers to key the separator to the support for rotation therewith and to locate the cage openings angularly with respect to the roller receiving slots, and means for centering the separator on the support; substantially as described.

13. In a machine for loading rolling elements into separator openings, a pair of concentric members mounted one within the other for relative rotation, one of said members having means to support the separator, the other member having a wall concentric with and spaced from the separator, said wall having a slot open radially towards the separator and also open endwise in a direction away from the separator supporting means to receive a rolling element endwise, the slot having a rounded surface merging with the concentric wall, and means for turning said one member about an axis to cause the rounded surface to tilt the rolling element into a separator opening; substantially as described.

14. In a machine for loading rolling elements into separator openings, a pair of concentric members mounted one within the other for relative rotation, one of said members supporting the separator, the other member having a wall concentric with and spaced from the separator, the concentric wall having an inclined cam slot acting as a barrier in a direction radially away from the separator, the slot being open endwise in a direction away from the separator supporting member to receive a rolling element endwise from a point beyond the end of the supporting member, the slot lying at an acute angle to the axis of the supporting member to direct one end of the rolling element into a separator opening and means `for turning said one member around an axis to cause the side of the slot to act as a cam for tilting said rolling element into a separator opening and inside of said concentric wall; substantially as described.

15. In a machine for loading rolling elements into separator openings, a support adapted to turn about an axis and having means to support the separator in axially projecting relation to the support, a member having a wall surrounding the separator and having a slot open in the direction in which the separator projects from the support to receive a rolling element endwise from a point beyond the end of the support, the slot having a wall facing towards the separator and inclined at an acute angle to the separator axis to cause the rolling element to move towards the separator axis with one end entering a separator opening, and means for causing the turning of the support to complete the entry of the rolling element into the opening.

RAYMOND H. CRAL/IER. 

